In a surprising move, Pope Francis has reportedly urged the Italian bishops' conference not to allow homosexual men to enter the seminary for priesthood training. This statement has raised eyebrows considering the pope's previous reputation for his inclusive approach towards the L.G.B.T. community.

During a closed-door meeting with over 200 members of the Italian bishops' conference, Pope Francis voiced the official position of the Vatican, which was established in 2005 under Pope Benedict XVI. The position, outlined in the document "Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders," states that individuals who practice homosexuality, have deep-seated tendencies, or support the "gay culture" cannot be admitted to the seminary or ordained as priests.

The news of the pope's remarks was first reported by Dagospia, a news outlet known for its confidential information and scoops. Subsequently, leading Italian dailies such as La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera reported the story, though it has not been officially confirmed.

According to unnamed sources, Pope Francis affirmed during the meeting that the utmost respect should be given to every person, regardless of their sexual orientation. However, he emphasized the need to avoid potential problems that could arise when gay individuals who choose the priesthood might struggle with living a double life or continue practicing homosexuality while concealing it.

The Italian bishops' conference has been engaged in discussions regarding homosexuality and seminarians for some time. Last November, a document titled "Ratio Formationis Sacerdotalis" was reportedly approved by the majority of bishops present, acknowledging the distinction between simple homosexual orientation and deeply rooted tendencies. This created the possibility for admission to the seminary for homosexual individuals who could demonstrate their ability to live a celibate life. However, Pope Francis seems to hold a more radical view, suggesting that homosexual individuals should not be admitted to the seminary at all.

Reports stated that two or three bishops raised questions about this matter during the meeting, with one bishop explicitly asking what to do when an openly gay person seeks admission to the seminary. Pope Francis replied firmly in the negative, underscoring the importance of putting preventative measures in place to avoid the risk of individuals leading a double life within the priesthood.

In discussing the issue, Pope Francis allegedly used the Italian word "frociaggine," which is considered a derogatory term for "queerness." Some sources believe that this was an unintentional gaffe, given the pope's previous stance of "Who am I to judge?" towards gay priests.

It remains unclear whether Pope Francis' comments will have any immediate impact on the Italian bishops' conference's decision-making process regarding admission to seminaries. However, this issue seems to have found a place on the agenda of one of the 10 study groups established by Pope Francis, in relation to the upcoming Synod on Synodality. While the results of these working groups may not be ready for the October assembly, they could still provide valuable input for future discussions on this topic.